Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a complication of lower leg trauma that occurs when the pressure inside the leg due to swelling exceeds the body's ability to provide blood to the muscle of the leg. This condition cuts off blood flow to the leg. Left untreated, the condition can result in devastating consequences including complete loss of function of the lower extremity or amputation. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based tissue perfusion monitors are a non-invasive means of continuously monitoring the amount of oxygen in the tissues of an injured extremity. The device utilizes harmless red light to detect the proportion of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen up to 3 cm below the skin surface. The purpose of this study will be to launch the first stages of validation of this device as a diagnostic tool for compartment syndrome, by observing this device in uninjured subjects.

due to absorption of hemoglobin and melanin at near infrared wavelengths, skin pigmentation may affect near infrared spectroscopy values. Skin pigmentation values will be recorded on each study participant using the DSM-II (CyberDerm, Broomall, PA) and the IMS SmartProbe (IMS, Portland, ME).

because the near infrared spectroscopy device measures tissue oxygenation 2-3 cm below the skin, the device may obtain an altered reading or be unable to obtain a reading on subjects with excessive subcutaneous fat. Data on fat depth will be collected on control subjects using the BX2000 (IntelaMetrix, Livermore, CA)

Male patients will have the leg hair under each sensor site shaved, using an electric razor, and near infrared spectroscopy monitored for an additional 15 minutes

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Uninjured volunteers will be recruited from a pool of uninjured individuals at the principle investigator's practice. Participation will be completely volutnary

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

over 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

any current traumatic lower or upper extremity injury

unwilling or unable to provide written informed consent

history of any anatomy-altering injury or procedure to the upper or lower extremity

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01284023